Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice for staff and visitors

by | Mar 13, 2020 | Uncategorized

Imtex Controls Ltd advice in accordance with the latest UK Government guidelines.

Please note, as at 12-March 2020, there are no known cases of coronavirus linked to Imtex Controls Ltd, but we need to be prepared should the situation change. The company remains fully operational, and we would like to reassure staff and visitors that we are continually monitoring the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19.

Hand sanitation points should be installed at all Imtex locations including public spaces, factory & office areas, eating areas and toilets.

Following are top tips to stay healthy:

  1. Wash your hands. If you touch a contaminated surface your hand picks up the virus. Even then you can eliminate the risk of infection if you wash your hands properly. Do this frequently, particularly before eating or after hands may have been contaminated; the Government advice is for at least 20 seconds or equivalent to repeat ‘happy birthday’ twice is a good way to wash for long enough.
  2. Alcohol based hand-rubs can substitute when hand washing is not available. Infected people may cough, sneeze or breathe out the virus that can contaminate exposed surfaces and be moved around on our hands.
  3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. These areas are most vulnerable to infection. As far as we know, infections are only transmitted when the virus contacts the mouth nose or eyes, or is breathed in.
  4. When phones are exposed, they can be contaminated. Wiping down any phone you use with an alcohol based wipe will help eliminate contamination.
  5. What about handshakes and masks? As cases of coronavirus grow, avoiding handshakes will reduce your risk – stick to fist or elbow bumps instead. Masks can stop you touching your nose and mouth but have little effect on breathing in virus unless specially designed.

Symptoms of coronavirus are:

  •  a cough
  • a high temperature
  • shortness of breath

PLEASE NOTE these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.

The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu. Travel advice to consider

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is currently advising:
• against all travel to Hubei Province, in China
• against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China.
• against all travel to the cities of Daegu, Cheongdo and Gyeongsan in South Korea.
• against all but essential travel to Italy.

The FCO is not advising against travel to any other country / territory as a result of coronavirus risks, but the FCO travel advice remains under constant review to ensure it reflects the government’s latest assessment of risks to British people.

Returning travellers

Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people if you’ve travelled to the UK from the following places in the last 14 days, even if you do not have symptoms:

  • Iran
  • Hubei Province in China
  • Special Care Zones in South Korea (Daegu, Cheongdo, Gyeongsan)

Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people if you’ve travelled to the UK from the following places, even if you do not have symptoms:

  • Italy

British nationals remain able to depart Italy without restriction. Airports remain open throughout Italy. However, airline schedules are subject to change and some flights are being cancelled. Travellers are advised to check flight details with airlines.

Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people if you’ve travelled to the UK from the following places in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath, even if your symptoms are mild:

  • China mainland outside of Hubei Province
  • South Korea outside of the special care zones
  • Cambodia
  • Hong Kong
  • Japan
  • Lagos
  • Macau
  • Malaysia
  • Myanmar
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

All visitors should be contacted approximately one week prior to visiting Imtex, either by email or telephone, and a series of questions asked pertaining to their recent travel history and health symptoms. These questions are:

  1. Have you returned from an overseas trip in the last 14 days?
  2. If yes, what countries have you visited during the trip?
  3. Have you developed or suffered from a new, persistent dry cough, a high temperature or shortness of breath in the last 7 days?
  4. Has anyone you live with developed or suffered from a new, persistent dry cough, a high temperature or shortness of breath in the last 7 days?

Depending on the answers provided to the questions, visitors may be refused entering an Imtex location as indicated in the above information.

Any staff member or visitor who has the symptoms of coronavirus and is concerned should use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
Please follow NHS guidance on how to avoid catching or spreading COVID-19.

Self-isolation
If you have been advised to self-isolate at home by NHS 111, your local health team or your doctor, please follow the NHS advice whilst in self-isolation.

Personal travel
If you have already booked a flight for personal travel, it is suggested that you check with your airline to see if they will offer a refund or rearrangement. Your travel insurer may consider a claim, based on individual circumstances.

We recommend you wait before making any future bookings to the impacted regions until such time as the relevant authorities or advisory bodies deem it safe to travel there again. Trips booked to the specific areas mentioned in the advice will likely not be covered by insurance if those trips were booked after the guidance was published.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND THE COMMUNITY